Automatic cut-off device



OCt- 31, 1939- M. B. oscHERwlTz ET Al. v 2.177,784

' AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF DEVICE Filed March 21, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /ax sc/lerwfz ery'amin Phil/ips INVENTORS BY (j ATTORNEY 0d. 3l, 1939. M. B. oscHr-:Rwn'z E-r Al. 2,177,784

AUTOMATIC CUT -OFF DEVICE Filed March 21,y 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wax scherwiz eng'amin Phil/[p3 INV NTOR BY $4.014( W1 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF DEVICE Max B. Oscherwitz and Benjamin Phillips, Cincinnati, Ohio Application March 21, 1938, Serial o. 197,085

6 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to an automatic device for cutting off a supply of fluid in the event of continued leakage or wasteful or unreasonable use thereof. The device may be used for control- R ling the supply. of any fluid under pressure, whether the fluid be a gas or a liquid; however, the most common application of the invention would be to the water supply systems of buildings, and especially .tenement properties, wherein l Waste of water due to carelessness, leaks, damaged or imperfect fixtures and the like, oftentimes subjects the landlord or property manager to payment of excessively large water bills, before the Waste or leakage can be detected.

N An object of the invention is to provide a device which will automatically cut off the supply of fluid in the event ofv excessive consumption, or leakages, great or small extending beyond a predetermined period of time, so `that a repairman zo may be called upon to investigate and correct any condition responsible for the waste of fluid before the cost thereof can mount to a high figure.

Another object of the invention is to lfurnish a device of the character stated, which will oper.

ate to cut off the supply of fluid, whether the Y leakage or waste be readily evident and visible, or

concealed underground or elsewhere.

A further object of the invention is to furnish a device of the character and for the purpose stated, which is simple, inexpensive and troublefree, so that its practicability in all respects is assured.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic cut-ofi device which will permit any reasonable fluid consumption intermittently, or

continuously during intervals of time not in excess of a predetermined maximum, so as not to interfere with any normal or expected usage of the fluid. The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view showing the device of the invention encased, with parts broken away to disclose interior structure in cross-section,

Fig. 2 is a fragmental elevational view showing the device in position to effect a cut-olf of fluid in a supply line.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, parts being broken away, showing a modification of the device of the invention.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, 4 indicates a uid supply pipe leading from a main, and 6 indicates an emergency cut-off valve which is normally in open position to permit a flow of fluid from the supply pipe, and through sections 1, 8 and` 9 thereof which lead to -the plumbing fixtures or consuming means of a building. The valve 6 may be of self closing type, or it may be closed externally by meansv of spring IIJ 5 connected with the valve handle I2. i

It will be noted that supply pipe 4 is in fluid communication with the device of the present invention, which comprises a valve body I3 in which a piston or plunger I4 is supported for re- 10 ciprocating movement. The piston may seat upon an annular valve seat I5 of the valve body, and may be maintained normally in the seated position by means of the spring I6. The spring is of such force as `to yield to the pressure of the 1.5 fluid in the supply pipe 4 when the fluid is dispensed through the fixtures connected with pipes 1, 8 and 9. In other words, the spring will maintain the pistonlagainst the valve seat I5 when the fluid pressure at both sides of the piston is equal- 2O v ized. Equalization may be provided for by leakage past the piston, or by means of a bleeder or other suitable expedient I1.

By reference to Fig. l it will be readily understood that any fluid leaking from or withdrawn 25 from the pipeV 9 or any branches thereof, will effeet movement of `the piston` I4 at least as far as the portk I 8 of valve body I3.

Attached to the piston or plunger I4 is a hollow shaft or piston rod I9, which extends through 30 the rear of the valve body, for reciprocation` through a fluid-tight packing gland structure 29.

Exteriorly of the valve body, rod or shaft I9 is surrounded by a cylindrical casing 2l which is xed against movement with the rod I9, said cas- 35 ing furnishing a support for a compression spring 22, a rack 23 and a rack retractor element 24. The element 24 is encircled by the spring 22 and has4 a head 25 which may slide within the hollow interior of the piston rod I9. Suitable abutments 40 device of any suitable design, to be driven by the 50A power of the compression spring 22 when the spring is placed under compression by the movement of piston i4 and its rod I9, resulting from a flow of fluid through the system comprising the pipes 4-1--8-9. As shown, the timing device 55 comprises a main shaft 3| upon which are fixedly mounted the rack pinion 32 and the ratchet wheel 33. The pinion is always in driving engagement with the rack teeth 34, and rotation of the ratchet wheel is transmitted to a large gear 35 through the spring pressed pawl 36 mounted pivotally upon said gear, as shown. Movement of the gear 35 is transmitted to an escapement indicated at 36-31, through a train of gears 38, 39, 40, 4I and 42. The escapement may be furnished with any suitable means, for example the offbalance weight 43 to render the timing device self starting.

From the foregoing, it should be understood that movement of piston or plunger I4 to the right (Fig. 1) will compress the spring 22 for yieldingly urging the rack 23 toward the right. The rack, therefore, will drive the timing device, as the rack moves slowly to the right under the driving inuence of the spring 22. The arrangement is such that a predetermined period of time, say tWo or three hours, will be required to dispose the rack to its limit of extension, Where the leading end 44 of the rack will strike the trip lever 45 to effect closing of the emergency cut-off valve 6. While a particular means is illustrated for the purpose of tripping or releasing the emergency valve, it should be understood that any suitable arrangement may be employed. As shown, the trip lever 45 is pivoted at 46 and engages a step or shoulder 41 of a dog 48, fulcrumed at 49, and pivotally connected with the valve lever I2 by means of a link 50. By preference, the trip mechanism is so constructed that the emergency valve may not be reset to its normal open position without gaining access to the casing 5I which houses the entire mechanism. The fluid, therefore, is to be effectively shut oif by the emergency valve until such time as an investigation can be performed by a repairman or other person authorized to reset the cut-off device.

Fig. 2 illustrates the operative position of the rack, for tripping the lever 45 and releasing the valve for a closing movement by means of the tension spring I0.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that there is a leak in any part of the system controlled by the emergency cut-off valve, there will be a ow of fluid from the supply pipe 4 and through the pipes 1-8-9. This ow, of course, will unseat the piston I4 and move it to a position near the port I8. This movement of the piston will be transmitted through the piston rod I9 to the spring 22, and so long as the piston remains in the advanced unseated position aforesaid, the spring 22 will act upon the rack 23 for driving the timing device. The advancing movement of the rack toward the trip lever 45 will be governed by the timing device so that a period of time approximating two or three hours, or any other desired time interval, will be required for tripping the lever 45 and closing the emergency valve. The system, therefore, will be permitted to leak only for a period of time determined by the timing device.

In normal usage or consumption of fluid, the withdrawal from the system will be intermittent, and so long as the continuous withdrawal does not exceed the time period imposed by the timing device, the emergency valve will not operate to shut off the system. To further explain this situation, let it be assumed that the withdrawal of fluid occurs continuously for a period of one hour. In such a case, the piston will be unseated and the rack will drive the timing device as previously explained; however, as soon as the fluid withdrawal ceases, the piston will return to its seated position, and the rack will be immediately retracted by reason of the connection at 25-26 between the piston rod and the retractor element 24. Any subsequent withdrawal of fluid, then, will start the timing device from the very beginning of its running period. Accordingly, if the timing device be set to trip the emergency valve at the end of a two hour period, and fluid be Withdrawn from the system for a period of time just short of the two hour period, and then terminated, the timing device will upon a subsequent withdrawal of fluid start at the beginning of another two hour period. Thus, any reasonable consumption of fluid from the system will not trip the emergency valve, but in the event of wasteful usage, a leak, or a faulty fixture permitting leakage, the emergency valve will operate to close off the supply.

The device just described may be conveniently mounted upon a panel 29 encased as shown to prevent access thereto by unauthorized persons. A timing device other than that illustrated may be employed and if desired, the timing device may have a regulating means such as is employed for regulating the speed of an ordinary clock, so that the timing period may be varied to accommodate various conditions and limits of individual fluid consumption.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated a modication of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, operating on a slightly different principle. In the Fig. 3 device, the elements which correspond with the elements of Fig. 1 bear similar reference numerals. In the Fig. 3 device, however, the hollow piston rod or shaft I9 is provided with a weep hole 52, so that the iiuid under pressure entering behind the piston will ow through the hollow shaft and into a chamber 53 to which the free end of the piston rod is fixed. This chamber is part of an auxiliary valve body 54 having a seat 55 upon which a poppet valve 56 is normally seated. The valve 56 is yieldingly maintained upon its seat by means of spring 51 which encircles the stem 58 of the valve. One end of the spring abuts the valve body, while the other end abuts a head 59 of the exterior end of the valve stem. The head carries a suitable washer or plug 60 adapted to close the adjacent open end of a drain pipe 6I. All of these elements are enclosed within a fluid tight tank or reservoir 62. i

Enclosed within the tank also is the automatic cut-off valve 6 and its operating spring I0. The tank contains also a float 63 to be elevated by reason of a predetermined fluid level within the tank. The float is operatively connected to a link 64 having an overhanging end 65 which normally engages one end of a trip lever 66 pivoted as at 61. The opposite end of the trip lever supports the head 68 of a connecting rod 69, the lower end of which is pivoted to the valve handle at 10.

In the modied form of device disclosed in Fig. 3 a withdrawal of fluid from the pipe 9 will move the piston to a position adjacent to the port I8, thereby permitting leakage past the piston through a bleeder channel or the like 1I, so that a small portion of the fluid under pressure will enter the Weep hole 52 and chamber 53. In the advanced position of the piston, as stated, the entire valve structure within the tank will be moved toward the right, with the washer 6E] in closing position against the adjacent end of the drain pipe 6I. In this position of the washer,

thewithdrawal` of fluid-continues Without interruption,` the tank Will slowly fill; andv when the level of fluid in the tank reaches an elevation sufficient to move the iloat 63, the over-hang 55 will release theftrip lever 65, thereby permitting thespring l0 to close the automatic cut-off valve 6.' Thepiston lll tlriereupon will return to the normal position of yclosing off the supply of the-'tank S12. Should the piston I4 leak slightly when in the closed position shown, any additional huid entering the tank "may be Withdrawn through an over-now tube or opening 13.

Under normal conditions of uuid withdrawal, the device oi? Fig. 3 will operate in substantially the manner described in connection with the device of Fig. l, that is, each reseating of the piston lffl` will withdrawthe Washer 6G from the drain opening t l, and thereby permit accumulated uuid to leave the tank. Thus, if fluid be consumed for a periodof one hour continuously the tank may iill to the half-way point but as soon as the Withdrawal is terminated, the accumulated fluid in the tank will leave through the drain pipe, whence it may be directed into a sewer or other means of disposal. It will accordingly be understood that in the Fig. 3 device the tank comprises the timing device which corresponds to the mechanical timer 3l] of Fig. 1. By installing the device of the present invention in the Water supply line of a building, for example, there is eliminated any excuse for abnormal water bills resulting from leaks', carelessness of usage, or faulty xtures which may WasteI water over a period of weeks o-r months before the condition is brought to the attention of the repairman or the owner of the property. The device is simple and inexpensive and will operate vfor long periods of time Without maintenance expense or mechanical trouble of any kind.` The devices hereindis'- closed are considered superior to any device for accomplishing the purpose thereof electrically, for the reason that its use is not limited to localities wherein electrical power is available.

It is' to be understood thatvarious modiiications and changes in the structural details of the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A control apparatus for fluid under pressure, comprising in combination a supply pipe for the iluid, a normally open emergency shut-off valve interposed in the supply pipe, timing means having an operating period initiated by a ow of uuid through the supply pipe, means under the control of the timing means for closing the shutoff valve upon expiration of the aforesaid operating period of the timing means, means to extend the timing means operating period for delaying closing of the shut-off valve, upon each interruption to the flow of iiuid in the pipe, and means isolating the shut-off valve from. the timing means upon closing of said valve, to preclude restoration of a now of fluid through the valve.

2. A control apparatus for fluid under pressure, comprisingin combination a supply pipe for the fluid, a normally `open emergency shut-off valve interposed in the supply pipe, a plunger subjected to the uuid pressure of the pipe and adapted to be advanced each time a flow occurs in the fluid pipe, a tank and a float therein controlling the emergency shut-off valve, meansrfor slowly filling the'tank withlluid while the plunger is advanced,`to actuate the float and close the emergency shut-off valve, and means for exhausting the fluid` from the 'tank between successive advancing'movements of the plunger.

3. A control apparatus for fluid under pressure, comprisingfan elongated cylindrical valve body having an inlet port with a valve seat at one end of the valve body and an outlet -port intermediate the ends of the valve body, and an outlet pipe through which fluid may be drawn from the outlet port, a normally open emergency shut-oir valve for controlling the flow of iluid" from the outlet pipe, a displaceable piston in the elongated cylindrical valve'body adapted to normally seat upon the valve seat of said valve body, means yieldingly resisting liuid pressure displacement of theV piston from the seat of the valve body toward the outlet port thereof, a piston rod extending axially of theelongated valve body for movement with the displaceable piston as the piston moves toward the outlet portwhen fluid is dispensed from the outlet pipe, a spring acted upon by the i piston rod, and a driver in turn acted upon by rod compresses the spring and tends to yieldingly advance the driver, a timing device including means effecting a driving relationship thereof with the driver, whereby the rate ofl advancement of the driver by the spring, when the latter is placed under compression by thev advancement of the piston rod, is` governed and reduced with respect to the rate of advancement of the piston rod, and meansoperative upon expiration ofa predetermined movement of the driver as controlled by the timing device, for effecting a closing movement of the normally open shut-off valve.

4. A control apparatus for fluid under pressure, comprising an elongated cylindrical valve body having an inlet port with a valve seat at one end of the valve body, and an outlet port intermediate the ends of the valve body, and an outlet pipe through which fluid may be drawn from the out-- let port, a normally open emergency shut-off valve for controlling the ow of fluid from the outlet pipe, a -displaceable piston in the elongated cylindrical valve body adapted to normally seat upon the valve seat of said valve body, means yieldingly resisting iiuid pressure displacement of the piston from the seat of the valve body toward the outlet port thereof, a piston rod extending axially of the elongated valve body for movement with the displaceable piston as the piston moves toward the outlet port when fluid is dispensed from `the outlet pipe, a spring acted upon by the piston rod, and a reciprocable driver in turn acted upon by the spring, whereby advancement of the piston rod compresses the spring and tends to yieldingly advance the driver, a timing device in driving relationship with the driver, whereby advancement of the driver by the spring place-d under compression by advancement of the piston rod, is governed and reduced in, speed, means for retracting the driver and normalizing the timing device upon each re-seating movement of the displaceable piston, whereby the resultant loss of the compressive force of the spring terminates the power source for the timing de-` vice, an-d means operative, upon expiration of a predetermined maximum movement of the driver established by the timing device, for effecting a closing movement of the normally open shut-off valve. i

5. A control apparatus for fluid under pressure, comprising an elongated cylindrical valve body having an inlet port with a valve seat at one end of the valve body, and an outlet port intermediate the ends of the valve body, and an outlet pipe through which iiuid may be drawn from the outlet port, a normally open emergency shut-off valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the outlet pipe, a displaceable piston in the elongated cylindrical valve body adapted to normally seat upon the valve seat of said valve body, means yieldingly resisting fluid pressure displacement of the piston from the seat of the valve body toward the outlet port thereof, a piston rod extending axially of the elongated valve body for movement with the displaceable piston as the piston moves toward the outlet port when fluid is dispensed from the outlet pipe, a spring acted upon by the piston rod, and a driver in turn acted upon by the spring, whereby advancement of the piston rod compresses the spring and tends to yeldingly advance the driver, a timing device governing the rate of advancement of the driver powered by the spring, and means actuated by the driver upon predetermined advancement thereof, for effecting a closing movement of the normally open shut-off valve.

6. A control apparatus for fluid under pressure, comprising in combination a supply pipe for the fluid, a normally open emergency shut-off valve interposed in the supply pipe, a plunger subjected to the fluid pressure of the pipe and adapted to be advanced each time a flow occurs in the iiuid pipe, a tank and a oat therein controlling the emergency shut-off valve, means for slowly filling the tank with ud While the plunger is advanced, to actuate the float and close the emergency shut-off valve, means for exhausting the fluid from the tank between successive advancing movements of the plunger, and means isolating the shut-off valve from the controlling influence of the oat upon closing of said valve, to preclude restoration of a flow of uid through the valve.

MAX B. OSCHERW'ITZ. BENJAMIN PHILLIPS. 

